Watkins, Aunty Cherie

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:32): South Australia has lost another great Aboriginal woman leader with the passing of Aunty Cherie Watkins, who died on 20 November. I am indebted to my friend Alison Denee, Aunty Cherie's daughter, for the following brief history of this amazing lady, who was such a good friend of the Florey Reconciliation Task Force, particularly in its early days.

Cherie was born at Tailem Bend on 3 October 1939 to Lister Frederick and Yvonne Lisette Turner. Lisette was the daughter of an ANZAC veteran and his French war bride. Cherie's father was a contractor who travelled the country, not staying very long in one place—a theme in Aunty Cherie's later life, too.

When she was about 10 or 12, the family moved from Victor Harbor to Leigh Creek. A significant early experience she remembered was that for one of her birthday parties, the white people of the town did not send their children to her party because Aboriginal children would be there. She often spoke about being a teacher from this age, because her teacher at the time would leave the classroom to go to the pub across the road and leave her in charge. She also told the story of how old Tom Cruise once brought her a brand-new pair of shoes. He had taken a drawing of the outline of her foot on one trip and the next time he was there, so were her new shoes.

Aunty Cherie returned to Adelaide for most of her secondary schooling and after eventually moving to Gilles Plains met the man who became her husband. Not long after that, her parents moved to Streaky Bay on the West Coast. Alison, my friend, was born to a young mum. Shortly after, Cherie's mum and dad moved back to Streaky Bay. When they decided they were not coming to town again, Cherie's new family followed them not long after.

Cherie worked as a bookkeeper there before coming back to Adelaide, to Taperoo, where a new baby boy, Mark, was born and then another move, to Angle Park, where a second baby girl, Cherylynne, was born. This baby contracted whooping cough, a terrible disease, and Aunty Cherie exhausted herself nursing this little one back to health. Not long after, the growing family acquired a much-loved little Morris Minor, which took them, and many local children as well, everywhere. In 1966, Cherie's dad had a serious accident and lost his life.

The move to Angle Park saw Cherie become very actively involved as the secretary of the Aboriginal Women's Council. Aunty Gladys Elphick was the president and led a group of women with great strength. They lobbied together in Adelaide for the referendum in 1967 on behalf of Aboriginal people Australia-wide.

Cherie then studied social work and graduated with her diploma. Port Adelaide, her place of work, had many Aboriginal families. She maintained her activist work with Aunty Ruby Hammond and many other prominent Aboriginal women. At this time Don Dunstan and Robin Millhouse were very supportive of the group, ensuring that inclusive bills were passed through parliament. During her study times, she wrote a few songs focused on the dilemmas of the Aboriginal community, and would always love a singalong by the fire.

It was also a time when many who travelled to Adelaide were always able to find a bed and a meal with Aunty Cherie. Aunty Leila Rankine became a close friend around then, and through her much early family history and how Cherie fitted into it became clearer. Cherie eventually found her beloved Virginia farm where many children, as well as her own, were in her house either fostered through government processes or family ties.

Cherie transferred from Port Adelaide to Gawler where there were many stresses with her working life at DCW, as it was known at the time. She struggled with government policies and their impact on Aboriginal communities, and cases played on her mind. After 10 years, she made the hard decision to leave the department.

In the 1990s, there was another move to Munno Para, and a little home where Cherie started all over again, learning and teaching the Kaurna language. Cherie was very passionate and worked with the Adelaide University on the retrieval of the Kaurna language along with Aunty Alice Rigney and Uncle Lewis O'Brien. She then taught the language at Tauondi College and Para West Adult Campus, Salisbury High, Fremont Elizabeth City High School and Kaurna Plains School where I first met her and saw her magic with all, especially children.

Kaurna Plains School life was a wonderful time. The friendships with staff and students were very special, and Cherie adored all she worked with and always had a special place for them and anyone needing a kind word. She taught Kaurna language and culture with passion, teaching alongside the very talented Uncle Kevin Duigan. Together they were a great team, and she loved the times when they were travelling and performing in Adelaide—even teaching prime minister John Howard and his entourage to count in Kaurna language through the Number Rock song. She was so happy being able to share her passion for Kaurna language and work with the children who she treated like her own grandchildren.

Cherie eventually started to cut back on her working duties and became involved with Salisbury, Port Adelaide and Playford councils, and she was recognised by Salisbury Council with the Living Legend Award in 2008. In her retirement from 2009 onwards, Cherie still maintained her connections with community. In 2012, Aunty Cherie was diagnosed with a memory loss condition, and over the next few years her family gradually lost the person who was their beloved mother. She still held some of her humour, her funny times and compassion, and still loved everyone around her, and they were always there for her until the end.

Aunty Cherie Watkins has been an inspirational role model for many, especially young Indigenous people in our community. She has been respected and loved by all who came into contact with her. She supported many Salisbury initiatives and involved herself in the Indigenous community wherever she could. Our heartfelt condolences to Alison and her family and Aunty Cherie's extended family and friends. They were lucky to have Cherie as their mother and friend, and I was one of the lucky ones to know her just a little. Vale, Aunty Cherie. You and your contribution to so many will always be remembered.